SCIENCE OF FOXHUNTING. 421 



tree in the park, and even the large laurels around 

 the house, were loaded with their nests ; and to give 

 some idea of their countless numbers, the sky was 

 positively darkened as they hovered over us before 

 descending to their roosting-places in the lofty elm 

 and oak trees which surrounded the lawn. In the 

 face of all these supposed enemies to game, we 

 always had an abundance of it ; and partridges par- 

 ticularly were so numerous that we could kill during 

 September our thirty brace a day, if required. The 

 land also under cultivation was never more produc- 

 tive than at that period. These are stubborn facts, 

 which may be cavilled at by game preservers of the 

 present day; but they are, nevertheless, perfectly 

 true, and could be vouched for by old men living in 

 the neighbourhood, besides ourselves. 



Now, as rooks have been accused of sucking eggs, 

 and even killing young ducks and chickens, we leave 

 these assertions to be digested by those who have so 

 mistaken their natural calling. Our poultry yard 

 stood in the midst of this huge colony of " black 

 barons of the wood," where they were seen strutting 

 about, as over the lawns and gardens, in perfect 

 security ; yet the loss of chicken or duckling was 

 never charged against them. Perhaps it may be 

 that out of gratitude to their protectors such for- 

 bearance was exhibited towards the young poultry. 

 No matter from what cause, our statements of these 

 facts cannot be contravened. 



There were only one keeper and one woodman to 

 look over the home manor of some fifteen hundred 

 acres of wood and land ; and, besides partridges in 



